Former President Barack Obama says the Trump administration is joining "a small handful of nations that reject the future" by withdrawing from the Paris climate change pact.

Associated Press

Obama defends Paris climate accord

Former President Barack Obama says the Trump administration is joining "a small handful of nations that reject the future" by withdrawing from the Paris climate change pact.

Obama is defending the deal that his administration painstakingly negotiated. He says the countries that stay in the Paris deal will "reap the benefits in "jobs and industries created." He says the U.S. should be "at the front of the pack."

The former president says in a statement that Trump's decision reflects "the absence of American leadership." But Obama says he's confident nonetheless that U.S. cities, states and businesses will fill the void by taking the lead on protecting the climate.

Obama says that businesses have chosen "a low-carbon future" and are already investing heavily in renewable sources like wind and solar.

US officials OK option for men with HIV to father children

NEW YORK — The nation's top public health agency is changing its guidance for HIV-infected men who want to father children.

Officials on Thursday said there's now enough evidence to say couples can safely try a lab technique to get pregnant.

For many years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it was too risky for infected men to have unprotected sex with uninfected women since that is how the virus spreads. Infection of the baby is considered possible, but far less likely.

The CDC has been slow to OK a technique called "sperm washing," which has been around for decades. It involves separating sperm from infected cells in seminal fluid. The agency says a review of nearly 4,000 cases involving washed sperm shows that it is a safe option.

Comey set to testify June 8 on Russia

Former FBI director James Comey is set to testify June 8 before the Senate intelligence committee investigating Russian activities during last year's election.

The committee said Thursday that Comey will testify in an open session, which will be followed by a closed session.

The committee's Republican chairman and senior Democrat have said members want to hear from Comey on his role in the development of the U.S. intelligence agencies' assessment that Russia interfered in last year's election.

They say they also hope Comey's testimony will answer questions that have arisen since Comey's sudden firing by President Donald Trump.

NBA Finals begin tonight

LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers look to defend their NBA title as the NBA Finals begin Thursday night in Oakland.

The Cavaliers take on the Golden State Warriors for the third consecutive year. The Warriors topped the Cavs in 2015 before blowing a 3-1 series lead in 2016.